Dear Mr Cornwell ‘A silver tower, red Dorset’s banner bears, The Cornishmen two wrestlers had for theirs’ These lines come at the end of the last verse on page 17 of Michael Drayton’s story of Agincourt, as he describes the embarkation of Henry V’s troops. My interest is in the line referring to Dorset. I have been unable to find any suggestion as to why Dorset’s contingent had a red banner with a silver castle. It does not seem to connect to the Earl of Dorset, who was by then legitimised and bore royal arms. Which castle could it be? Sherborne? Corfe? Sandsfoot? What is the connection? I wondered if you have any idea where source material might exist to throw some light on the subject? My interest in this is private, not commercial, as I am a Dorset man and a member of the Society of Dorset Men who have the phrase (misquoted, sadly!) on their logo and Society flag. Your guidance would be much appreciated. It goes without saying that I have read most of your books, so I shall attempt to avoid sycophancy and place my request in the knowledge that your researches into this area of history are more likely to have covered this sort of fact that those of historians whose interest lies with the higher echelons of society. Many thanks for the hours of enjoyment you have given me and countless others. Yours sincerely Patrick Harries